Coupling for lubricators



Nov. 9, 1937. w. G. NORD 2,098,514

COUPLING FOR LUBRICATORS Filed 0G11. 27, 1951 l .l S-x ML75@ 6'. /VORD Avv/Mfrs Patented Nov. 9, 1937 PATENT' OFFICE COUPLING- FOR LUBRICATORS Walter G. Nord, mherst, Dhio, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Stewart-Warner Corpo'- ration, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Virginia Application october 27, 1931, serial Nq. 571,445 4 claims (ci. 28s-169) My invention particularly relates to couplings adapted to be used with standard pressure apparatus, such as grease guns, the coupling being connected intermediate the gun and the member 5 being lubricated. My improved coupling is particularly applicable for use with standard lubricating ttings secured to automobile parts. The purposes of the. invention are to provide im- 'Drovements of this character which can be economically manufactured and easily assembled, which can be conveniently operated and do not easily break or become defective in operation, and which effectively assist in the lubricating operation by automaticallyvgrabbing and clamping on the tting through which the lubricant `is being passed; and which completely seal the joint between the discharge end of the coupling and thel receiving end of the fitting.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain means exem-4 plifying my invention, such means constituting, however, but one of the various forms in which the principle of the invention may be embodied. 4 In said annexed drawing:

Figure 1 is an axial section of my improved coupling in detached position from a. conventional lubricant tting with which one end of the coupling is designed to cooperate, this lubricant fitting being shown in position upon the vehicle element requiring lubrication. This vehicle element is also shown in fragmentary section, as is also thus shown a lubricant-ejection nozzle form ing part of a conventional pressure gun and with which the opposite end of the coupling engages;

Figure 2 is an elevation, taken from the plane indicated by the line 2-2, Figure 1;

, Figure 3 is a transverse section, taken in the plane indicated by the line 3 3, Figure l;

A Figure 4 is a view similar to that shown in 40 Figure l, with the coupling and conventional fitting in operative engagement and the several coupling elements in lubricant-feeding position;

Figure 5 is an elevation and section, taken in the planes indicated by the line 5 5, Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a transverse section, taken in the plane indicated by the line 6`6, Figure 4.

Referring to the annexed drawing in which the same parts are indicated by the same several numbers in the different views, a part of a vehicle element I which requires lubrication .is provided with a conventional lubricant ttng 2 having an outwardly extended smooth-surfaced nipple portion 3. By smooth-surfaced nipple portionf, I`

Q mean a surface which does not present shoulders,

flanges or other protuberances designed to cooperate with the clamping means of the coupling in the clamping or locking action. This nipple 3 is formed with a. lubricant passage 4 communicating with a passage 5 leading to the parts I in the vehicle I which require lubrication. I also show an externally-threaded lubricant-ejection nozzle 6 which is va part of standard and well known means forming a. lubricant reservoir (not shown) from which lubricant is forced by a presl0 sure gun outwardly through and from the noz-A zle 6. Myimproved coupling member is designed to cooperate with the nozzle 6 at one end and with the nipple 3 at the other end to pass lubrlcant from thepressure gun to the element I. l5

This improved coupling comprises a cylindrical and longitudinally apertured main casing portion 1 which is internally threaded at one end to cooperate with an externally threaded portion of v the nozzle 6, the main casing portion 'I being 20 externally threaded at its opposite end tocooperate with anv internally threaded hood or head 8 which extends at one end beyond the main casing portion I and is formed with an outwardly tapered inner surface portion 8. The main cas- ."25`

ing portion 'I and the head 8 form a casing for the clamping and sealing means described below. Upon this tapered surface portion 9 of the hood 8 are mounted multiple-jaw members I0, three such jaw members being shown in the form of 30 l device illustrated. These jaw members IIJ are machined to form and, in their outermost position sho'wn in Figure 1, closely register along their lateral edges and form a central nipple- A receiving opening I2, as shown in Figure 2. These 35 jaw members Ill slide inwardly and outwardly of the hood 8 and, as they `move inwardly froml their outermost position, become spaced one from the other more. or less, as shown in Figure 5.

Means controlling the inner and outer sliding 40' movement of the jaw members I0 will be herein- 'after fully described. 'These jaw members I0 are bent inwardly at their outer end portions to form clamps II adapted to grip the smooth outer surface of the nipple 3. However, the distance by 45 which the terminals of the clamps II are spaced apart, in other words, the diameter of the nipplef receiving opening I2, is so small that this opening can not receive the nipple 3 until the jaws are forced inwardly upon the surface portion 9, 50 as shown in Figure 4. This inward forcing of the jaws I0 is eiiected by forcing the terminal concave portions I3 of the jaws I0 against the nose 3' of the nipple 3, which nose gradually opens and separates the jaws I0 as they are 55 jaws I0 is effected against the resistance of a coil spring I4 bearing at one end against an 'internal shoulder I5 formed in the casing portion 'I and at the other end against a bearing washer IG contained within the casing portion 'l and spaced by a gasket I1 from a block I8, the several members I6, I'I, and I8 forming a piston and being of annular formation so as to 'accommodate a plungern I9 which extends at both ends beyond the .piston I6--I'I-I8. This piston IG--II-I8, under the normal action of the spring I4, is forced somewhat outwardly of the casing portion land abuts the inner ends y of the jaws I0, as clearly seen in Figures 1 and 4.

The plunger I9`is longitudinally `apertured and is formed at its outer end with an enlarged portion 2| forming a housing for a sealing member 22 which abuts the nose 3 of the nipple 3 when the coupling member Ais clamped to the nipple. The longitudinal opening 20 in the plunger I9 communicates with a longitudinal opening 23 in the sealing member 22 so that a conduit for the passage of the lubricant from the ejection nozzle 6 through the casing portion 'I to the nipple aperture 4 is thus provided. The plunger I9 is movable longitudinally of the piston IG-I'I-IB through the medium of a coil spring 24 which has materially less tension than the spring i4 and which engages the front end of the block I8 of the piston and the rear end of the enlarged end member 2| of the plunger, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 4. This spring 24 serves to maintain the sealing engagement of the member 22 with the nose 3' of the nipple 3 until the tight clamping of the jaws I0 upon the nipple is effected.

The inner and outer edges of the element whose subdivision forms the several jaw members I0 lie substantially in perfect circles, but after the element has been so subdivided, lthe inner and outer edges of the jaw members I0 do not form perfect circles, due to the thickness of the cutting tool with which the subdividing is effected. Therefore, these jaw members I0 take the irregular outline-plainly'shown in Figure 2. However, when theV jaw members I0 have been spread an amount substantially the thickness of 4the cuttingtool; the inner and outer edges of the jaw members I0 form substantially perfect circles, as approximately indicated in`Figure 5.

The improvements above described provide coupling. means between the pressuregun and the part being lubricated, and also provide automatic and efficient gripping means upon the smooth outer surface of the lubricating nipple and efficient sealing means at the junction of the coupling and the nipple, all as willl be readily understood. I wish particularly to point out also that, if by reason of the clogging ofthe opening 4 in the nipple 3 or, for any other reason, the feeding of the lubricant through the channels 2D', 23, and 4 is not being effected satisfactorily, Vthe pressure thereby built up in the casing portion 1 is applied against the bearing washer I6 and hence applied to the piston'and to the jaws Ill and sealing housing 2I to produce amore effective leak-proof joint between the sealingr member 22 and the nose 3 of the nipple 3; which effec- I plunger portion; between said plunger end andthe piston and tive sealing joint is maintained until the part being lubricated can be rocked or tilted, or other corrective measures taken, to relieve the clogging or other untoward conditions.

What I claim is:

1. A coupling for lubricators comprising a tubular casing; a plurality of cooperating radiallymovable jaws slidably mounted in the casing and forming a nipple-receiving opening; a springactuated piston slidably mounted in the casing and adapted to move thejaws longitudinally,

thereof; a plunger mounted in the piston and extended therethrough and longitudinally movable independently thereof and having a longitudinal aperture, said plunger being provided with an apertured sealing member disposed interiorly of the jaws; and a coiled spring disposed between said plunger and said piston for urging said sealing member toward said opening.

2. A coupling for lubricators comprising a tubular casing having an open-ended portion formed with an outwardly-tapered inner surface portion; cooperating jaws slidably mounted upon said surface portion and forming a nipple-receiving opening; a longitudinally-movable piston mounted in the casing and bearing at one end upon the inner ends of the jaws; a coiled spring normally holding the piston in its outermost position; a plunger mounted in the piston and eX- tended therethrough and longitudinally movable independently thereof and havinga longitudinal aperture, the outer end of said plunger forming a sealing member disposed adjacently interiorly of said nipple-receiving opening; and a coiled spring bearing at, one end upon the front end of the piston and normally holding the plunger in its' outermost position.

3. 4A coupling for lubricators comprising a tubular casing, said casing including a' main casing portion and an open-ended outwardly-extended head engaging one end of the main casing portion and having an outwardly-tapered inner surface portion; a plurality cf cooperating jaws slidably mounted on said tapered surface and normally extended outwardly of the head, the jaws forming a nipple-receiving opening leading inwardly of the casing; a spring-actuated piston mounted in the casing and normally holding the jaws in their closed position; a plunger mounted in the piston and extended therethrough and longitudinally movable independently thereof and having a longitudinal aperture, said plunger` being formed with an enlarged end p orl' tion; an apertured sealing member in said and a coiled spring disposed normally urging the sealing member toward the nipple-receiving opening.

4. A coupling for lubricators comprising a casing; cooperating jaws movably mounted at one end of said casing and forming a nipple-receiving opening; a piston slidable in said casing and adapted to move said jaws into clamping position; resilient means'urging said piston to move Vsaid jaws; a plunger slidable in said piston and having one end near the inner end of said opening; a sealing member carried by said plunger end; and resilient means urging said plunger toward the inner end of said opening, said piston being between the said two resilient means and compounding the resilient action thereof.

, WALTER G. NORD., 

